82 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 
which very little is known as yet as to its capabilities. When Messrs. 
Knight and Perry sent it out it was stated to he a suitable bedding 
out plant; this is now rather doubtful, and the state of your plant 
partly proves it. You must not give it much water, nor expose it to 
draughts of cold air ; as it grows larger repot it in light rich sandy 
earth. We cannot advise you to plant it out, as we much fear it is 
not yet known whether it will breathe open air. 
Zauciisneria Californica {Ibid). —This, you say, is doing well, 
and has thrown out several shoots, already more than an inch long.— 
It is perfectly hardy, having stood the winter in the Horticultural 
Society’s garden at Chiswick. If you wish to propagate it take off 
the cuttings with a sharp knife, and plant them in sand, either in a 
moderate hot-bed or in a pot, under a tumbler glass, in your window, 
shading it for a few days, and as soon as they root pot them off into 
small pots: in a month after they may be planted out for good. Peg 
your plant down to the ground if planted out, but if in a pot tie it up 
to a stick, or more than one if there are more shoots coming up. 
FtrcnsiA Shedding its Flowers (J. U., A Subscriber ).—You 
say the flowers drop as soon as they open, although you have changed 
the soil, pruned the roots, and given a larger pot, as remedies.—Are 
you sure your fuchsia does not want water, as we know no other 
cause for the flowers falling so soon ? Try an abundant supply for a 
time, and let us know the result. 
Amaryllises (W. Ledger ).—You have these plants in 10-ineh pots, 
some of them have flowered, and some have not; and you ask whether 
it is proper at the potting time to shake the soil away and repot them, 
or merely let them rest, and grow them in the same pots without dis¬ 
turbing them at all ? whether the roots are to be preserved entire 
at potting-time ; and whether the bulbs should be quite under the 
soil ?—In reply, we have to observe that the true amaryllises are now T 
fast going to rest; water them more sparingly ; do not shake off the 
old soil from their roots, and do not repot them till the roots increase 
so much as to split the pot. Mr. Beaton advises all bulbs to be 
buried in the soil; he also maintains that their roots should by no 
means be cut or mutilated, for they cannot be too old. Look over 
his directions again. 
Gladioli (Un Francais) —Your gladioli, planted the same week 
as Mr. Beaton wrote, have not yet made their appearance.—Turn out 
the balls, and if no roots are seen, the bulbs must have perished; but 
examine them, they may yet vegetate. If not, take them to the 
person who sold them to you, and make him supply others in their 
place. 
Raspberries Destroyed by an Insect (Rev. C. Churton ).— 
Last year the blossoms and fruit in your Shropshire garden were 
repeatedly destroyed, by being partially eaten through the stalk just 
below the fruit. Unless you can send us one of the marauders we 
cannot tell you his name, but we suspect that it is a weevil somewhat 
like that described at p. 269 of our first vol. Thus, the copper- 
coloured weevil ( Curculio cupreus) eats half-way through the stalks 
of plums, deposits her egg in the wound, and leaves natural decay to 
bring the fruit to the ground. If you find one of your enemies, 
oblige us by sending it to us in a strong pill-box. 
Names of Plants ( James Elsden). —Your bulbous-rooted plant 
is Fritillaria meleagris, a native of England, and commonly known 
as the Guinea-fowl flower, or Chequered Daffodil. Your shrubby 
plant is Daphne pontica. It may be increased by grafting on the 
common Spurge Laurel. You will find something about it at p. 
224 of vol. i. (J. W. Peckham). —The drawing you have sent us of 
an orange-coloured flower streaked with scarlet is a portrait of Abu- 
tilon striatum, or Striped Abutilon. It is a greenhouse evergreen 
shrub, and a native of Brazil. (A. A.). —The weed upon your lawn 
“ with leaves spreading out flat as rays from a centre, so flat that the 
scythe cannot touch it,” appears to be the Buck’s-horn (Plantago 
coronopus). It is a most troublesome weed. Serve it as we recom¬ 
mended, at p. 61 , the dandelions to be served. 
Strawberries in Bloom (A. A.). —Water them freely, notwith¬ 
standing the cold w'eather, if rain does not occur. 
Dielytra Spectabilis (J. W. Irving ).—This is a hardy herba¬ 
ceous perennial native of Siberia; stem about a foot high ; flowers 
purple, blooming in June and July. It is easily propagated by divi¬ 
ding the roots; and it wall flourish in any rich light garden soil. Of 
Plumbago Larpentce you will find the information you require in our 
columns to-day, and at p. 235 of vol. i. Of Zauciisneria Californica 
you will find all the information in our 1st vol., atpp. 10, 235, and295, 
Cuphea Platycentra (Ibid) is a greenhouse evergreen shrub. 
Its flowers, scarlet and white, appear in June. It is a native of 
Mexico. For its culture see p. 268 , vol. i. 
Cinerarias done Blooming (An Amateur Subscriber). —You 
will have seen, at p. 62 , an answer to your question as to their treat¬ 
ment now that “ they look very bad, and the leaves are turning 
brown.” 
Worms and Ants ( Hortus). —To driye these away, see what we 
have stated at p. 124 of vol. i., and at p. 51 of the present volume. 
The most powerful application for the destruction of worms is a solu¬ 
tion of corrosive sublimate, but remember that it is a deadly poison, 
and that any chicken, or other living creature, eating a worm so 
killed will share a similar fate. Dissolve two ounces of corrosive sub¬ 
limate in every forty gallons of water, ami soak the ground with it 
thoroughly. It is most effectually applicqVhen the worms are near 
the surface in wet weather. 
Silk (H. II .).—The silk manufacturers will purchase this produce 
of your silk-worms. Can any one inform^ us of a party who will 
urchase “a large quantity?” Our correspondent also wishes to 
now how long the silk-worm’s eggs are,hatching. 
Errata. —Atp. 62 , col. 1, line 31 from'top,jead “Fuchsioides.” 
The correspondent who has pointed out this observes, in reference to 
Rodochiton, mentioned in the same page:—“ Rodochiton is indis¬ 
putably of the masculine gender, and therefore requires, as the ter¬ 
mination of the adjective, jolubihs, not volubife. The error seems 
to have been very generally adopted. Substantives (from the Greek) 
ending in n are apt to deceive, as pogon, a beard. 
Peas Boiled in their Pods (Rev. C. Chapman). —Our cor¬ 
respondent observes truly, “ We often have, at continental tables- 
d-hote, green peas boiled whole—the pods I mean ; sometimes they are 
sliced like French beans, sometimes served up whole as gathered from 
the plants; they make a delicious vegetable, but I never met with it 
in this country. In great simplicity I one day ordered a dish of the 
youngest pods to be gathered and sent to table boiled whole : they 
would not do at all; the more they were boiled the more stringy they 
were. I was told afterwards that the peas I had eaten abroad were 
of a particular kind, used only in this way, and never shelled. . None 
of the nurserymen or seedsmen in this neighbourhood know anything 
about it, and seem civilly incredulous. Can you tell me the name of 
this pea, and where it is to be had in this country ?”—We often have 
wondered that this “ all-eatable pea ” has not been introduced into 
England. It is the Pisum sativum macrocarpum of botanists, 
and may be had of any seedsman at Paris under the name of Pois- 
sam-purchemin, or Pois-mange-tout. 
Fruit-trees Badly Planted (Ibid). —These, which you say 
were put into holes just large enough to receive the roots, in “ a very 
stiff coarse clay, described by some one as in winter all bird-lime, 
and in summer all cannon balls, holding water like a sponge, only 
not parting with it so readily,” must all be taken up next autumn 
and replanted in “ stations,” as described in our first volume. Never 
mind their having been planted three years; they can be moved 
almost without feeling the removal, since you say “ the roots have 
made no growthnor will they whilst in their clay basons. You 
may apply charred refuse to your gooseberry and other fruit trees 
even now with advantage. Do not dig it in. 
Mandevilla Suaveolens (J. C. and A Subscriber). —You can 
obtain this from any of the nurserymen who have advertized in our 
columns. It will not thrive so as to blossom freely, except when 
planted in the border of a greenhouse or conservatory. 
Swedish Turnip Storing (X. X.).—Try cutting off with the top 
such a slice of the bulb as to remove all the collar, or part from whence 
any sprouts can arise, and store the bulbs thus beheaded in layers, 
with earth, in a shed. In the case of carrots, this mode is most 
effectual. 
Yellowly’s Fork (J. Pidgeon). —We do not think that these 
are sold ready made, but any blacksmith could make you one from 
our drawing and description, given at p. 289 of vol. i. They cost 
about 5s. each. 
Monthly Calendar (Ibid). —In this, “b” means beginning, 
or first half of the month ; and “e” means end, or last half. 
Loam (Constant Reader, E. Dereham). —You have made a great 
mistake in using “ a sort of brick earth soil ” for potting your camel¬ 
lias. It is quite true that, in some parts of England, farmers and 
brick-makers call brick-clay “ loambut gardeners apply this term 
to a mouldy soil in which neither clay nor sand predominates, such 
as is usually found to form the top spit of a rich pasture. 
Ranunculus Awning (Juventus).— Oiled cartridge paper would 
do for this, but calico, made water-proof by a preparation for which 
we will publish a recipe if you require it, would do better. You 
must water your ranunculuses abundantly every evening. Soot is a 
good manure for stiff land. 
Thread Netting for Greenhouse (G. Tye). —We never saw 
anything of the kind, but you will obtain every information probably 
from Mr. R. Richardson, 21 , Tonbridge-place, New-road, London. 
If you do not succeed write to us again. 
Bulbs (Rev. G. F. L. Owen). —Any of the florists who advertize 
in our columns will supply you with genuine bulbs. Messrs. Wilmot 
and Co. are florists, at Lewisham, Kent. 
Window Tax on Greenhouses (S. L. W. P.).— We are very 
glad to find that the opinion we expressed as to greenhouses commu¬ 
nicating with parlours not being liable to the window tax, is confirmed 
by the following case sent to us by a correspondent:—“ I beg to 
inform you that I was charged six additional windows by the assessor 
of taxes, but thinking myself aggrieved I applied to the surveyor, 
who, having examined them, took off the extra charge, at the same 
time stating that I was only liable to pay for the window’s of the 
rooms communicating with the greenhouse or conservatory. I will 
thank you to introduce this in your answers to correspondents, for 
the information of your numerous readers who may be similarly 
situated, or who may wish to erect greenhouses, but are deterred from 
the fear of adding expenses in the shape of window’ duty.” 
Diseased Apple-trees (G. ilf. Lee). —The canker in your trees 
may be caused, and certainly will be increased, by their roots pene¬ 
trating into the subsoil—“a cold, wet, clayey gravel.” Draining 
this ismost desirable. We shall write fully upon the subject of this 
disease before long. 
Black Fly on Currant-trees (Ibid). —This is the Aphis ribis, 
or Red-currant Aphis. Syringing with strong tobacco-water, or 
fumigating with tobacco-smoke, whilst a large sheet, reaching to the 
ground all round, is spread over the bush, are the only effectual 
remedies. 
Alpine Straw’berries (Amir). —You can obtain plants, proba¬ 
bly, of any of the nurserymen near London. Planted out now, and 
w’ell supplied with water, they would yield fruit in September. 
Li&uid Stable Manure (A Constant Reader, E. Dereham ).— 
This may be used for camellias, fuchsias, and geraniums, w ith advan¬ 
tage. One gallon to five of water will not be too strong for them, , 
probably; but see Mr. Beaton’s rule, or test, in to-day’s paper. To 
asparagus it might be applied as strong as one gallon to tw o of water. 
Do not give liquid manure to any crop just coming up. 
London : Printed by Harry Wooldridge, 147, Strand, in the 
Parish of Saint Mary-le-Strand; and Winchester High-street, in 
the Parish of St. Mary Kalendar; and Published by William 
Somerville Orr, at the Office, 147, Strand, in the Parish of 
Saint Mary-le-Strand, London.—May 17 th, 1849. 
